Disaster Coordinator Winston Salomon is advising the country’s mainstay, the tourism sector and business community overall, to review hurricane preparation plans since we are now in the most active period of the 2012 hurricane season which runs from August 15 and through October 15.
The tourism sector, business community and residents are also advised to pay keen attention to weather reports with special focus on the Eastern Atlantic Ocean where tropical weather systems that form off the African Coast (Cape Verde Islands) can become a serious threat to the Eastern Caribbean island chain.
This year’s Atlantic hurricane season got off to a busy start, with eight named storms to date, and the U.S. National Oceanic Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) Climate Prediction Centre which released an updated outlook, still indicates a 50 per cent chance of a near-normal season, but increases the chance of an above-normal season to 35 per cent.
At this stage of the hurricane season, tourism-oriented businesses should be prepared. The prevention of the loss of life of our visitors and staff along with protecting property from damage is the responsibility of every business owner.
The engine of the economy is every single business operation on the island. Each one plays a very important role in the island’s tourism-oriented economy.
As the Office of Disaster Management annual theme says, "It only takes one!" Now is the time for business community in its entirety as well as residents to review what preparations are in place, and not when a storm is about to hit.
The remaining names of potential storms for the 2012 season are: Isaac, Joyce, Kirk, Leslie, Michael, Nadine, Oscar, Patty, Rafael, Sandy, Tony, Valerie and William.
The hurricane season runs through November 30.